Atheist Invocation Sparks Outrage

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,127614,00.html

TAMPA — Across America, many local government meetings begin with public prayers but a Tampa city council meeting recently started out with members leaving because of the invocation.

Atheist Michael Harvey (search ) was about to give the invocation at a Tampa City Council meeting when some members became angry. A debate continued for nearly 30 minutes until three members walked out.

Mary Alvarez left saying she shouldn't have to "listen to an atheist sit here and tell me what I should or should not believe in."

Tampa atheists were granted permission to speak during the invocation after scolding the council for praying to "invisible men in the sky."

Harvey doesn't believe in God so praying for civic wisdom for public servants, the whole idea behind any invocation, was impossible.

"All I was trying to get across was that if they're going to be guided by something let them be guided by things we know work... reason... logic, science," Harvey said.

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it's my contention that Harvey was giving his interpretation of what god is to him. if you ask anyone what god is "to them" they will give you an answer. "to me? well to me it means..."

If the us gov were to adopt an official meaning to the word god, like "whatever higher force guides you" and go on to incude such things as any ideal, philosophy, religious belief etc. it would avoid just so many problems. the christians would be refering to christ the muslims to allah athiests to their high consiousness and so on.

does this seem foolish? if it does t/y for telling me and if not id like to start a mailing compaign to our reps.

i just think if we had an official meaning all would be included and all could STFU already! we've got more important things to fight about. "in god we trust"